Melissa has many different names: lemon balm, bee mint, honey color, lemon mint. People have known about this herb and its properties since ancient times. Avicenna also used lemon balm to treat the digestive system, heart and strengthen the whole body, and the ancient Romans used it in perfumery. Lemon balm comes from the Eastern Mediterranean and Iran, and is also found in the Caucasus and Crimea.
Lemon balm is the most famous spice and medicinal plant, the name of which is translated from Greek as "bee". Indeed, bees love this grass very much. Its lemon-like scent, especially at the beginning of flowering, not only attracts them, but also soothes them. Therefore, beekeepers often use this property of lemon balm when working in an apiary: rub your hands with lemon balm and the bees will no longer bite.
Honey color - a perennial plant, herbaceous, grows as a bush from 20 to 80 cm in height, leaves with a coarse-toothed edge, very reminiscent of mint.
The plant blooms almost all summer with white or pinkish flowers, which are located in the leaf axils.
Melissa has a very wide range of uses, primarily in medicine. Such an amazing plant not only conquers with its wonderful aroma, but also represents a whole natural pharmacy. All the healing properties of the herb lie in the significant content of essential oil, rich in a large variety of components. This oil has a calming effect, therefore lemon balm is extremely useful in the treatment of various neuroses, insomnia, hypertension, heart diseases.
The upper parts of the plant (leaves, stems) are used. Harvesting is done before flowering and then dried in rooms with good ventilation. Such raw materials can be stored for two years.
Melissa is used in medicine in the treatment of many diseases in the form of external poultices, compresses (boils, bruises, ulcers), as well as in the form of tinctures and decoctions (inflammation of the gums, toothache). Lemon balm has a good effect in case of toxicosis, anemia, stomach pains, dizziness, heart and female diseases.
Bee mint teas have a calming and relaxing effect on the body, gently cleanse the stomach and renew the blood composition.
The herb's antiviral properties are effective in treating viral diseases, skin diseases, and insect bites. Speaking about all the properties of lemon balm, useful for the body and the treatment of various diseases, we can say with confidence that its possibilities are endless. It turns out that lemon mint is also an irreplaceable aid in the fight against excess weight.
Taking lemon balm as a medicine, you must remember that there are contraindications here too. The main thing is the intolerance of such a plant by the body. Doctors also do not recommend taking medications with honey color for those who suffer from arterial hypotension, as well as: with stomach ulcers, liver failure, epilepsy, ulcers, pregnancy and children under three years of age.
In addition to medicine, lemon balm is widely used in perfumery, food industry and cooking. Lemon mint make excellent tonic drinks, housewives use it for preservation. The plant can also be consumed fresh, adding it to salads, meat and fish dishes, soups and sauces, or as flavorings in tea or vinegar.
You can grow lemon balm, delighting with its aroma and beneficial properties, at home. Today, on almost any piece of land (and even just on the windowsill) you can find this wonderful plant.
